$1 million gold smuggler bolts

Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter A 33-YEAR-OLD Kwekwe man who is facing charges of attempting to smuggle gold worth about $1million is on the run after defaulting court.

National police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said police are looking for Tudhope James Roy who was arrested while trying to smuggle 28,5 kilogrammes of gold valued at about $970, 000 into Botswana.

“Roy was arrested after police recovered 28 bars of gold wrapped in eight packets in a false compartment of his vehicle,” she said.

Snr Asst Comm Charamba said Roy appeared at Plumtree magistrate court on November 18, 2015, and was remanded to December 2, 2015.

“Police are looking for Tudhope James Roy who defaulted court on December 2, 2015,” she said.

Roy, a resident of Chicago Plots, Kwekwe, is facing charges of possessing gold without a permit or licence and attempting to smuggle it.

Magistrate Livard Philemon granted him $2,000 bail.

Police intercepted Roy who was driving a Toyota Hilux single cab at the Plumtree Border Post on September 14 last year.

Within weeks after Roy’s arrest, five cases of individuals attempting to smuggle gold whose value ranged from $200,000 to $500,000, were reported at the same border post.

Figures from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development reveal that the country recovered gold and diamonds worth $2,4 million from unlicensed dealers between October 2014 and August 2015.

Recently, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni, who is also the National House of Assembly Member for Mangwe Constituency said there was a need to tighten security at border posts.

He said culprits were taking advantage of loopholes at the border posts to smuggle minerals.

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So you are justifying crime and stop giving too much such a public platform you might be asked to identify the woman so that the Law can take its course.If Gold prices are lower then the relevant industry associations should then approach Government and resolve this rather than export our resources for individuals gain.I was not overstretching myself but trying to make you see sense in that smuggling is a criminal activity even if our economy was firing we would still have Gold smugglers these smugglers mind you they dont sell to authorities there they sell to dealers in the black markets.

Dumi

True my man. What comes to mind is the phrase UZEKUBANE…It was supposed to mean Who to you come to? But my word if you ask that question and you don’t sing it right? Oh lord!!!!!!